Apparatus for refractometry



AAug. 18, 1953 P. D. SCHNELLE APPARATUS FOR REFRACTOMETRY iled June 5, 195o 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. v Pff/UP .D Jaw/uf Aug. 18, 1953 Filed June 5, 1950 F. D. SCHNELLE APPARATUS FOR REFRACTOMETRY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

P/Wz /p E. JKM/viaf- Aug, 18, 1953 P. D. SCHNELLE APPARATUS FOR REFRACTOMETRY Filed June 5, 1950 A 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 REPRESENTATIONS OF CURRENT AT VAKZlOUS VALUES OF LIGHT FLUX Patented Aug. 178, 195g UNITED STAEES OFFICE Application J une 195 0,f Serial-No. 136,235vv 3 Claims.

This invention relates to the art oi refractome: etry and particularly to apparatususefultherev An object of the invention is'to-improvev refractometric devices by means of lighttrackingf system which avoidsvr errors heretofore: inherent for.

in the measurement` orf-refractive index.V A-iursfther object is to provide'a neW-refractometric device.`

In the measurement of refractive' `index'f'offiiuids in industrial-processing it has-Lbeeiradisf advantage that the uids are subjected Yto vari:- ations inV composition .ori temperature; 1 resulting in optical non-homogeneity.. For, examplanvvhen.. a narrow monochromaticloeam:'ofalightispassedv through a prism containinga sampleof'such-,a1v liquid, instead. of obtaining a,.narrow .ribboniiof-f.

light after passage through the prism,th'e.re.

sultant beam of light maybroaden;ascmuch'as." one hundred times, so that `the measurement ofi the exact position of such'alightbeamisxvery': It has not been possible-:by meansofi the prior art `devices to rdeterminezathe. optical., center of such a broad beam of light so-.that.1`

difficult.

measurements depending upon the: determination of the location of the beam of lighthave'- failed when the test sample utilized-in .refractive index measurements has consisted. of variable mixtures, and mixtures subjectvtorapid and indeterminate changes in color, chemical consti? tution and temperature, suchas in the variation..

of one constituent in a'mixture of'materials.

Prior art rei-ra-ctometric instruments have'endeavored Ybyan on-or-oilsystem lio-follow a beam' of light in the determination of'itsp'osition'as a" measureof refractive'index, Such instruments-n have beenffound to be impractical since' they are seriously affected bythewidth ofthe light'beam.- For example, a `device has-been. describedrwin which a ynarrow .beam of light is directed to either..

of two closely-adjacent, rectangular, light-ree oeiving elements, such individual elements beings: connected to respective or the' other light-receiving element. It hasbeen found, however, that in the industrial'` use of' refractometric instruments it is impossible toi prevent the beam of light'irom becomingbroad-l ened andtherefore shining upon both'of the receiving units. VSuch conditions may be the'result" individual actuating means Which can .direct the moving portionsio-t.- the instrument in one directionfor the other.- in? accordance with the signal impressed upon oneY` (o1. :senin 2'AVV Tlie'aboveedescribedtype` of instrument, therefore; fails tti-operatewhen' subjected to varying temperaturerof the'testliquid; or to lack of homogeneity. Thus, the light beam" broadens under 0'" such conditions evenwhen' the temperature changes involved amount-,only to small fractions of a" degree;V Insuch instancesybecause of the broadening-0f" the beam of V light' incident upon thelight'lsensitivesystem; ithasbeen found that l0" instead Lof shining upon one or the other of the lighti-receiving elements, that-the light beam instead broadens Ito shineuponboth of the lightreceiving' elementsI at" the" 'same' time. Under such" circumstances,A they electrical system which is operated in conjunction with the light-receiving1:system cannotdetermine-whether ity shall move in one direction or the-other, so that'the resultanteie'ctl'ca-nn'ot be predicted, and the instrumentimay` move-in acompletely contrary direction to thatwhichwouldbe expected from the pl'xysical`` 'characteristics oir the liquid being tested. Acco'rdin'gflygfwhenI such `instruments are utilizedfiin,precise"Work'they-fmay be subjected to gross errors@ amounting! to several .hundred vloer-- cent; `or ifi utilize/dfi: incontrol` applications they may operate iniacompleteiy contrary manner to that whichx-'Would be required by the change causingfthe broadening .of th'elight beam. From the viewpoint of the optical system involved, it n1-aya be said. that'fsuch': priorart devices which utilized ftwo rectangular, L lightesensitive elements in which the light Would shine upon one or the other individually,-suffered' from the disadvantage'that they' had-only, a finite resolution and .that such finite resolution greatly limitedthe scope of theinstrun'ient.vv Accordingly, the instrumentacan only be: considered to be a rudimentary attempt inthe problem `of providing a iracticall recording, and. controlling refractome- It'has been found that arefractometer may be constructediin which light-from a beam, subject to"an`gular deviation as thelresult-of changing in refractive index, maybe impressedupon light- /sensitive" elements which are in reciprocal relationship, so that when deviation of the light beam results/in an' increase in the amount of light upon one'ofthe lightlsensitive elements, there is found to be"a"decrea`sein the amount of light received by the-other' of the' pair Vof lightsensitive elements; 'It has been' found'that' under such a positive'system, a'narrow beambf'light cannot befflost-completely-since'lightshines at all times upon each of the said reciprocal light-receiving lbele`ments: This"'apparatus is therefore capable of far greater accuracy, particularly when utilized in conjunction with the improved process in which the light-receiving means are operated in combination with electrical means to give a characteristic electrical voltage or signal.

The improvement described above in the apparatus for using reciprocal light-receiving elements in refractometry is the subject matter of copending application Serial No. 794,004, led December 26, 19471, and assigned to the same assignee as is the present application.

The above apparatus has now been improved by the present invention relating to an apparatus in which the Voltage received from the unbalance sensing means is varied in phase for diiferent conditions of unbalance between the light beam and the light beam position sensing system. This voltage is employed to actuate a restorative system to achieve a balance between the light beam position sensing system and the light beam. lThe position of the light beam sensing system is then a direct measure of the refractive index of the material which is being passed through the prism.

The invention will be described in greater detail in conjunction with the drawings which illustrate typical diagrammatic and semi-diagrammatic arrangements of apparatus which may be used to carry out the process of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings, in which an embodiment of the invention is illustrated,

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of the refractometric apparatus with certain of the parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a diagram of the electrical system of the refractometer.

Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 show the relation of the light beam at various positions in relation to the reciprocal light-sensitive elements.

Figure 7 represents the plate characteristics of the two photo tubes in a series circuit.

Figure 8A shows the variation in light iux with time where the Y ilux exceeds the X ux.

Figure 8B shows the variation in light flux with time where the X flux exceeds the Y ux.

Figure 9A represents the voltage output to the servo amplifier under the conditions shown in -Figure 8A.

Figure 9B represents the voltage output to the servo amplifier under the conditions shown in Figure 8B.

Referring to Figs. l to 9, inclusive, the device embodying the present invention comprises in general, as shown in Fig. l, a light source, preferably monochromatic, I emits a beam of modulated light, or a continuous light interrupted by means of a mechanical chopper. The beam of light is passed through a condensing lens l I, a slit I2, which may be adjusted or xed as desired, and a collimating lens I3 to reach the prism system. While I may employ a single prism I4, I can also take advantage of the greater deviation which is made possible by the use of a plurality, such as the pair of prisms. The prisms may be provided with a temperature control system, whereby the temperature of the fluid entering the prism at I5, and leaving at I6, may be maintained constant throughout the measuring period. From the prism the refracted light passes through the condensing lens I1 as a narrow ribbon I84 and enters the detection and tracking system.

The light detection system includes a housing 20 and a slit plate holder or wedge mask 2I, on which is mounted a. slit system such as the two similar and reciprocal wedge slits, 22 and 23. This entire unit comprising the housing, slit plate holder or wedge mask and reciprocal wedge slits is hereinafter referred to as the tracken Other reciprocal light elements may also be utilized. The beam of light I8 entering the slit system is there divided into two parts which proceed respectively from said slits to an upper light-responsive cell 25, and another light-responsive cell 2l; However, the light-responsive elements may also be situated in a unitary case, such as a twin element photocell. Prisms or mirrors may be employed to direct the light beam. It is also possible to mount the reciprocal slits or wedges in xeol relationship as a unit with the light-responsive cells.

The reciprocal light openings or slits 22 and 23 are situated across the path or sweep of the ribbon of light leaving the prism. Consequently, the angular displacement of the light as the refractive index changes, results in a sweeping of the ribbon across the light openings or slits. However, it is essential that some light pass to each one of the two openings regardless of the angularity of the light ribbon. The reciprocal relation thus obtains throughout the possible light-sweep area, i. e., that a gain in light to one slit is accompanied by a corresponding loss of light to the other.

It is particularly important that the separation zone between the light-receptive photoelectric elements be non-parallel and preferably perpendicular with the plane of the ribbon of light. This condition is necessary so as to have some light enter each of said light-receptive units at all positions of the sweeping light beam. Thus, the instrument is operative, even if the beam swings very suddenly, whereas a separation zone parallel to the ribbon could be missed entirely in a sudden swing too rapid for the instrument to follow.

Another advantage of the angularly inclined slit is that variations in image width are of minor effect, since the reciprocal relation of the lightreceiving portions assures a clearly measurable effect. Even small changes in position of the ribbon of light I8 are accurately detected. Because of the diierential nature of the change in light ux on the individual elements, the tracker has theoretically innite resolution. Very narrow ribbons of light, I8, which are desirable to preserve accuracy in the lens system, may also be used since the reciprocal elements are adapted to any width of the ribbon or beam.

By separating the light-receptive units by means of the above-described reciprocal elements 22 and 23, it is possible to isolate the photocells. This is advantageous since light-proof housings may then be used for the individual photoelectric cells; consequently, the eiect oi stray light may be reduced since it is possible to direct the light beams or ribbons through a mirror system from the respective reciprocal slits or openings 22 and 23 to the ultimate photoelectric cells. Another advantage of this system is that more sensitive cells may be utilized, since such cells are not subject to stray light but are completely shielded except for the above-described reciprocal portions of the light ribbon. Such an apparatus utilizing the principle of the invention also makes it possible to provide a more 5. rugged form` of apparatus for industrial: applis.l cations;

Eig, z'shows in diagrammatic for-m a. typical.A circuit which may be employedlm carry-ing out the process of the present-invention. Thecircuit. shows an embodiment. by;` means ofv which. the light receiving means orv photoelectric cells :may be 1 connected to obtain aY signal: which. may.- then be employed asV anv electrical., effect. ory signal. output 'to the servo. amplier, which may. thenoperate restorative means. for. the measurement. otherefractiveindex of a-test liquid. InFigi 2, lilllirepresentsl light-sensitive elements, such. as a-.pair of photoelectric cells, although itiisalso feasibleto employa dual type photoelectric celll iii-'Which `two .receiving units are employed Iin the same envelopei Insuchz latter circuit, however, it isnecessary that. an anode and'. cathodeA be connected, and that an intermediate leadl bevavailable in the said connection between the anode and cathode. The remaining twoterminalsfromthe photoelectric cellsystem, namely, the remaining anode and the remaining cathode, are then connected in the circuit as shown in Fig. 2'. A plate voltagevisintroduced into the circuit at li. The circuit alsoincludes a vacuum tube |02 as a cathode follower voltage-amplifier..

It is desirable thattube H12 be locatedinclose` proximity to the photoelectric cells; The circuit terminates at w3 to provide a signal output to'theservo amplifier', although one of the two electrical leads at lili may be grounded. Thev remainder-of the circuit lshovvnin l'lig. 2 comprises.

elements its and H which are large resistors to function in controlling the sensitivity of the circuit and to overcome the diode action of the phototubes. In addition, a load resistor H is employed in connection with the vacuum tube to function as a cathode follower. Element Il is a coupling condenser and IUS is the grid'resister for the vacuum tube.

The light-sensitive elements arepreferably of the type designated as conductivity and emission type phototubes, although the barrier type of.

tube or self-generating type may also be. em, ployed when suitable modicationsare. made in the electrical' circuit.

The mode of operation of the entire apparatus.

may be summarized by following a change in refractive index in the iluid iiowing through the..

prism system. The consequent change in refraction or bending ofthe light beam results in. a.,

dilerence inthe relative the 'tvvo'photocells-l In the of the in the'photocell readingsy createsan unbalance which" is` amplified. also be used to effect movement of vadrve motor by conventional means, such asa thyratron cir.- cuit, or vacuum tube current amplifier tubes. Movement of the drive motor is. then utilized to displace the light .receiving elements, suchgas the unitary assembly of the Wedge slits andphotovoltagey outputs froml cells. The motor movement thus restores thesystemto a state of balance. The-magnitude of.

the displacement may also. be indicated'. asa change in refractive index of .the .test 1iluid, giving a direct dial reading or chart record of refrac-4 tive index.

The principle underlying the tracking or followingfof the'angularv deviation-ofthe light beam is rset forth-.infullertdetailfbelow.

Tracking. ofi the lightfbeam is accomplished by meansnfaa: servo-actuated,l photo-mechanioal=de-- 75v preferredembodiment.v invention, as .shown in Fig.. 1, .the changev The amplified signal may.v

vice which .has .-been .afoundtofbe capable .offenen-v atingI with high sensitivity.- and.stability.. The. light; beam,... before. it; impinges on. the-l photo.-A tube' surfaces,- is divideinto; two portions;` by. reciprocal optical f wedge. masks` or.` slits. shown '.inl Eig, 1.` Thetwo portions-1` of theradiat-ion'strike twodiierent phototube elements,A which, however,r :r1-ay. becontainedi inf. the same glass en.-v v'elope.. The .distribution :of fthe .lightiluxzbetween; thegtwo.fplfiototubeelementspis` determinedebyfthe position4 of the light.` beam; with respect"v to the. reciprocal.- WedgeV4 mask:,. For.y example, referring. to i ,the left 5illustrationserepresent a. View:` of. the wgedge-v mask, 2 l with; the ribbon; of; light. at.l positions A,`Bzand C.. This.. is shownin anton vicWnWhile-.the `drawing at; the. right illustrates.y how' such beams. pass through the.` wedge; mask: 2i.. unitary;y phototube 53e; having. apair-of anodes'. andca-thodes.. The nextfhorizontalseries; Fig. 4, illustrates they position .ofthe light beamzat :positionlA when more light will striker. the bottom4 cathodethan the-top cathode. Atfiposition. B, Eig.- .5, Y represented bythe thirdr line,` theY opposite is4 true;` more. light.` Willr strike. the;V top cathode than l thebottom cathode: Whenrthezbeam 1 is :im the .-middlel of the reciprocal optical wedgemask. (position C) ,'shovvnrinli'g. 6; .an-equal amount .ofi light will strike bothcathodea In principle, the Wedge masks or slits could-be.

near the center where-.the slope shouldabe large to give greater. sensitivity; of, tracking. The slope;

offythisy middlefsectiorncan bemade large iffthe sensitivityfof trackingsisgdesired tozbe very high.

The next step in'theoperation ofthe trackingsystem in following, light-,beam ,f resulting from variations in refractive index of the test uidsisttoprovidean electrical signal. After the sensingA elementiof the tracking mean,s-,na-1nely,.,l thev wedgemask 'or slit system inmombination'witn rtheiphototube, .has been af-vr fectedrbyft-heangular deviation. of. the .light beam, tha-tracking. device of the.. present. invention serves to, introduce into. the: electronic. circuit, such.4 as;v air` ampliiier, .a phased unbalance signal which is',v usedk to actuatcf the f.servomotor to restore the servo mechanismato balance..` The .phasing is accomplished by ytheuseof the reciprocal optical-wedge mask or slit in conjunction tvitha` plurality ofligtht detecting-.meanssuchias .a series phototube circuit; employed in conjunction with ar modulating' source ofI radiation.

.Referring to the .discussion'abovefvvith refer-y enceV to-Figs. 36, concerning. the.'variation inlightf fluir falling upon. the vindividual lightsen sitive elements,y assume; forrexample, that there is apotentia'lof 196 volts placedonl the anode lof'-Y the top-phototube of the two phototubes Wired inV series. When. both tubes'` arev sameamountof light (regardless .-of ithe labsolute magnitude 'of the f total i light flux) the.; midpoint; or theeelectrical connection intere mediate. to lthe lanode andl cathode connected in seriesg'between the two'tubes'will'be 50 volts, assuming that both'tubes haver-substantially identical.electricalcharacteristics. Similarly, if the top tube were to receive twice -theligl'itwhich 5 the-bottom tube received;-its-resistancewould'be (Shown in a side-view).- torimpingeupoma..

angular:` deviations. of the` receiving the the voltage at 7 less than that of the bottom tube and the voltage drop across the tube would be less. Assuming linear operation of the tubes, the voltage of the intermediate point would be 66.6 volts above ground. This voltage also is independent of the total value of light flux and is a function only of the diierence in the light on each tube. The total light flux in this instance determines the static resistance of the tubes. It is the difference of these two static resistances that gives the signal. The diierence in the amounts of light falling on the two phototubes is determined only by the position of the light beam on the optical wedge mask or slit assembly. It is essential in the utilization of the phase characteristic method of the present invention that the light source be a modulated one such as a mercury or a sodium lamp which totally extinguishes itself two times a cycle. The amplitude or light flux obtained as a diiference thus results from the diierence in the opening or aperture of the wedge situated in front of the light-receptive tube. As a result of the differences of light flux received by the individual light-receptive units and the phase relationships set up by the series tubes a motion of f the Wedge system in one direction or the other is obtained to return the system to the null balance. The magnitude of this return or restorative motion gives a measure of the refractive index.

Fig. 7 represents the idealized plate characteristics of two phototubes in a series hookup. Tube Y is the lower tube and tube X is the top tube drawn with its voltage axis reversed in the manner of a conventional load line of a vacuum tube.

Fig. 7 represents the voltage current relationships of the two photoelements. In each of the groups of curves I-l, the lines l-'I are representations of current at various values of light iiuX. For these various conditions the current and voltage are given in the conventional manner. Furthermore, the vertical line Vu represents the condition at which the voltages are the same for the respective photoelements.

Figures 8A and 8B represent the light flux at a condition of unbalance for a modulated light source plotted on an arbitrary time axis. The units of the light flux are arbitrary but are maintained the same as those for the light iiux lines in Fig. 7. In one case the Y-flux predominates, and in the second case the X-ux predominates.

It is now possible to determine the voltage at the point between the photocells at any time, t, for the flux relation shown in Figures 8A and 8B. This may be done by determining the light flux at any time, t, for X and Y and noting the intersection of the lines corresponding to these flux values in Fig. 7. The intersections of these lines will determine the current and the voltage existing at the point between the photocell system. A plot of the rst case in Fig. 8A, where the Y tube flux exceeds the X iiux, yields curve A in Fig. 7; and a plot of the second case in Figure 8B, where the X flux exceeds the Y iiux, yields curve B in Fig. 7. When the voltage of the point between the photocells is plotted against time, it yields Figures 9A and 9B. These positive or negative D. C. voltage fluctuations contain an alternating voltage fundamental, the phase of which differs by 180 electrical degrees. By this method there is provided a means of obtaining an alternating voltage which is proportional to the distance of the light beam from the balance point of the optical Wedge mask-phototube system, and

8 the phase of alternating voltage is a measure of the direction of the unbalance. Having obtained a phase-sensitive, alternating-voltage signal, it is possible to construct the tracking servo-mechanism by known techniques.

When the alternating voltage signal, characterized as to phase, has been obtained, it may then be utilized to restore the light-receiving aS- sembly by various means, such as a rigid rod, 50 of Fig. 1, or a carriage utilizing a cable drive actuated by a reversible motor; or another method which may be employed to restore the light-receiving assembly to a null-balance position is described in the above-mentioned copending application, Serial No. 794,004, filed December 26, 1947, and assigned to the same assignee as is the present patent application.

Since many changes could be made in the above methods and apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense, and that the invention is to be construed broadly.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A refractometer for transforming changes in refractive index of a fluid into an electric signal which comprises in combination, a source of modulated radiation, a hollow prism and means for passing a fluid therethrough, means for directing a collimated beam of radiation from said source thro-ugh said hollow prism, means for imaging the beam upon two light-receiving units which are in reciprocal and xed positional relation to each other such that a null balance point exists where the beam of light falls equally upon the two receiving units and such that a deviation of said beam from this point results in a gain of light to one unit and a decrease of light to the other, said receiving units including means for changing the light differences obtained when the beam is subjected to deviation from said point of null balance, due to changes in refractive index of said fluid, into a uctuating electric voltage impressed upon a carrier of direct electric voltage, means for removing the said fluctuating electric voltage vas an alternating voltage component, and means for appiying 'the alternating Voltage component to restore the two receiving units to the position of null balance, the position of which corresponds to a value of refractive index.

2. A refractometer for transforming change-s in refractive index of a iiuid into an electric signal, which comprises in combination, a source of modulated radiation, a hollow prism, and means for passing a fluid therethrough, means for directing a collimated beam of radiation from said source through said hollow prism, means for imaging the beam upon two light-receiving units which are in reciprocal and fixed positional relation to each other such that a null balance exists Where the beam of light falls upon a predetermined point upon the two receiving units and such that a deviation of said beam from this point results in a gain of light to one unit and a decrease of light to the other, said receiving units including means for changing the light dierences obtained when the beam is subjected to deviation from said point of null balance, due to changes in refractive index of said iiuid, into a fluctuating electric voltage impressed upon a carrier of direct electric voltage, means for removing the said fluctuating electric voltage as an alternating voltage component, and means for applying the alternating voltage component to restore the two receiving units to the position of null balance, the position of which corresponds to a value of refractive index.

3. A refractometer for transforming changes in refractive index of a uid into an electric signal, which comprises in combination, a source of modulated radiation, a hollow prism and means for passing a uid therethrough, means for directing a collimated beam of radiation from said source through said hollow prism, means for imaging the beam upon two photocell means which are in reciprocal and xed positional relation to each other such that a null balance point exists Where the beam of light falls equally upon the two photocell means and such that a deviation of said beam from this point results in a gain of light to one photocell and a decrease of light to the other, said photocell means including means for changing the light differences obtained when the beam is subjected to deviation from said point of null balance, due to changes in refractive index of said fluid, into a fluctuating electric voltage impressed upon a carrier of Cil PHILIP D. SCHNELLE.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,936,400 Langmuir Nov. 21, 1933 2,016,036 Gerald Oct. 1, 1935 2,065,365 Doyle et al. Dec. 22, 1936 2,065,758 Shepard Dec. 29, 1936 2,136,682 Gilbert Nov. 15, 1938 2,413,208 Barnes Dec. 24, 1946 2,439,373 Stearns Apr. 6, 1948 2,444,442 Herbold July 6, 1948 2,446,628 Brown Aug. 10, 1948 2,452,122 Gumaer Oct. 26, 1948 2,483,102 Pierson Sept. 27, 1949 

